United States vs. Great Britain

After 30 years of independence, the United States found themselves drawn into a second war with Great Britain. How did this happen?????• British ships were stopping American ships and

impressing (seizing) U.S. sailors and supplies, claiming that many were deserters from the British Navy. One such event was the Chesapeake Affair in 1807.

• The British in Canada were also supplying weapons to Native Americans in the Ohio River valley, encouraging them to attack American settlers.

Causes for WAR

• President Jefferson decided against war, but wanted to use trade as a weapon to avoid bloodshed.

• Jefferson and Congress passed the Embargo Act of 1807.

1. American ships were not allowed to sail or trade in foreign ports.

2. It also closed American ports to the British ships

• Jefferson’s policy was a disaster. It was more harmful to the U.S. than to the British or French. One New Englander said the embargo act was like “cutting one’s throat to cure a nosebleed.”

James Madison becomes President in 1809 with the support of a group of young Congressmen from the south and

west (Henry Clay, John C. Calhoun) known as the War Hawks.

The War Hawks wanted the British to stop all seizing of U.S. ships and to stop aiding the Native Americans.

They also had ideas of conquering Canada and creating a vast new American empire.

Urged by the War Hawks, Congress declared war on Great Britain on June 18, 1812.

From 1812-1814 Britain paid little attention to the war and try to focus and their war with France

Battle of Lake Erie (1813)

U.S. naval commander Oliver Hazard Perry defeated the British force at the Battle of

Lake Erie

United States forces tried to capture Lower Canada (1812-

1813) but failed due to inexperience.

"We have met the enemy and they are ours."

                                                      

In 1814, the British invaded the United States.

August 1814, British troops captured Washington D.C. burning down

the White House and many Federal buildings.

As the British burn the city and march towards the White House, Dolly Madison saves many important national artifacts minutes

before the British arrive and destroy the White House

At the Battle of Fort McHenry, near Baltimore, Francis Scott Key watched the all night British

bombardment.

At dawn he noticed the US flag was still

there!!!

Key expressed his pride in a poem

that later became the US National

Anthem

Oh, say can you see by the dawn's early light

What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming?

Whose broad stripes and bright stars thru the perilous fight,

O'er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming?

And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air,

Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.

Oh, say does that star-spangled banner yet wave

O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

Battle of New Orleans

In January 1815, the British attacked New Orleans. An outnumbered U.S. General Andrew Jackson defeated the British

invasion.However the battle was unnecessary, due to slow

communications the war had ended with the Treaty of Ghent in December 1814.

The Treaty left things as they were before the war, no new land was acquired by either side.

1. Proved Americans could protect their independence.

2. Created unity and pride in the U.S.

3. U.S. forced to make their own products

4. U.S. and Great Britain entered a period of peace and friendship that still exists today.